Becoming "Defenders of Marriage"

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. There are many of those who are in favor of the court ruling, and there are many who are not. It is a topic I have pondered a lot about, and this week I had the opportunity to read more about the the Supreme Court's decision, and the judges who dissented from the majority. There were many compelling arguments, and points made from those who dissented from the majority, and ultimately opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage. My hope is to share some of their points and tie their remarks with religious principles in line with those of the Mormon faith (and many other Christian faiths).

Some of the dissenting judges remarks consisted of the following:

• "This universal definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman is no historical coincidence. Marriage did not come about as a result of a political movement, discovery, disease, war, religious doctrine, or any other moving force of world history—and certainly not as a result of a prehistoric decision to exclude gays and lesbians. It arose in the nature of things to meet a vital need: ensuring that children are conceived by a mother and father committed to raising them in the stable conditions of a lifelong relationship."
• "The Framers created our Constitution to preserve that understanding of liberty. Yet the majority invokes our Constitution in the name of a “liberty” that the Framers would not have recognized, to the detriment of the liberty they sought to protect."
• "...‘liberty’ is not lost, nor can it be found in the way petitioners seek. As a philosophical matter, liberty is only freedom from governmental action, not an entitlement to governmental benefits."
• "If this traditional understanding of the purpose of marriage does not ring true to all ears today, that is probably because the tie between marriage and procreation has frayed. Today, for instance, more than 40% of all children in this country are born to unmarried women. This development undoubtedly is both a cause and a result of changes in our society’s understanding of marriage."
• "Today’s decision usurps the constitutional right of the people to decide whether to keep or alter the traditional understanding of marriage. The decision will also have other important consequences. It will be used to vilify Americans who are unwilling to assent to the new orthodoxy."
• "Today’s decision will also have a fundamental effect on this Court and its ability to uphold the rule of law. If a bare majority of Justices can invent a new right and impose that right on the rest of the country, the only real limit on what future majorities will be able to do is their own sense of what those with political power and cultural influence are willing to tolerate. Even enthusiastic supporters of same-sex marriage should worry about the scope of the power that today’s majority claims."

It was compelling to read their remarks (including those above), and see the insight they brought in accordance to the law, and the effects such a decision could have upon our society. Prophets and apostles have prophesied for a long time of such confusing times. The Apostle Paul once said the following:

"In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, . . . despisers of those that are good, . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. From such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:1–5).

We live in, as Paul states, "perilous times." It is a difficult time, where the line between what is right and wrong has been blurred for many. As one of the Supreme Court judges stated though, "this universal definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman is no historical coincidence... It arose in the nature of things to meet a vital need: ensuring that children are conceived by a mother and father committed to raising them in the stable conditions of a lifelong relationship."

Marriage between man and woman has been a religious institution since the beginning of time, ordained of God. In legalizing same-sex marriage, the Lord’s institution of marriage is being desecrated, and the effects of redefining marriage will continue to affect society for the worse, just as things such as children being born into a single-parent home has become more widely accepted.

Elder Russell M. Nelson has admonished us to be "disciples of the Lord" and "defenders of marriage." It is crucial that we defend the institution of marriage, as ordained by God. Some of those in our society, and the majority vote of Supreme Court judges do not determine what marriage is, the Lord does, for He is the one who created such a sacred institution. 

Being "defenders of marriage" may not always be easy, but the path of discipleship is not always easy either. It is a path that requires a great deal of faith, and is often accompanied by trials and tribulations. It is also a blessed path though, and one where we received the Lord's promised blessings that we will be protected. I know that this is true from my own personal experience, and that although the path of discipleship is not always easy, it is definitely worth it.

My hope is that some of the insight shared regarding the Supreme Court's ruling, accompanied with gospel truth may be able to help those who read this blog post in their efforts to defend marriage, and strengthen their testimony of this gospel truth.

Renaissance of Marriage by President Henry B. Eyring:

References:

Nelson, Russell M. (2014, Aug. 14). Disciples of Jesus Christ-Defenders of Marriage. Brigham Young University Commencement.

Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. (2015). Supreme Court of the United States.